Panama City commission: votes on code change, budgets, grants and downtown property plans

Panama City commissioners met Feb. 25 and recorded a series of actions including code amendments, budget transfers, grant acceptances, property decisions and direction to staff on public-safety and waterway issues.

Highlights include adoption of Ordinance 32-60 (recreational vehicle and boat storage rules) and approval of a strategic community plan supporting the Goshen Community Resource and Recovery Center’s application for Florida Children’s Initiative designation. Commissioners also approved multiple grant acceptances and budget amendments, directed staff to return with solutions for derelict and live‑aboard vessels in Watson Bayou, and authorized staff to proceed with a draft request-for-proposal process for development of city-owned property at 447 Harrison Avenue with a preference for mixed-use responses.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 32-60 (RV/boat storage): Adopted, 4-0. (See separate article for full coverage.)

- Ordinance 32-57 (vacation/abandon alleyway and easement south of East Second Plaza): Adopted, 4-0.

- Minutes approval and routine consent items: Approved as presented; consent agenda passed 4-0.

- Budget amendment (resolution 20250225.4) to allocate insurance proceeds to close unfunded/donor hurricane-related projects: Approved 4-0; transfers of approximately $3.7 million from insurance proceeds were recorded, leaving roughly $18.3 million in the hurricane-insurance proceeds fund per staff presentation.

- Port Security Grant acceptance and budget transfer (resolution 20250225.1): Approved 4-0 to accept $33,841 in federal funds to purchase two drones for the police department with a $11,280 local match.

- Edward J. Byrne grant supplement (resolution 20250225.2): Approved 4-0 to transfer $3,241 from the general fund to cover the difference for seven mobile fingerprint scanners.

- Watson Bayou: Commissioners directed staff to prioritize solutions and return with a report and recommendations (motion passed 4-0). Staff noted an existing ordinance covering live‑aboard and derelict vessels but said many enforcement steps fall to state agencies and law enforcement.

- Downtown parcel at 447 Harrison Avenue (Downtown Breezeway property): Commission approved issuing an RFP and asked staff to include language encouraging mixed-use proposals while preserving the pedestrian cut-through easement; motion passed 4-0.

- Fortune Avenue transfer from Bay County to the city (Fortune Avenue from 203rd Street North to Airport Road): Approved 4-0 after public‑works inspection found the roadway in acceptable condition.

- Hometown Revitalization / Glen Cove facade contract (ITB PC-25-028): Staff recommended awarding a construction contract; after discussion about eligibility and grant requirements the commission voted to table the item for additional review and to return with documents and answers (tabling motion passed; item scheduled to return March 18).

- Strategic community plan supporting Goshen Evangelical Ministries’ Florida Children’s Initiative application (zip code 32401 / census tracts 16–18): Approved 4-0; staff will submit the finalized plan to the state application process.

Other business and follow-up

Commissioners also adjusted meeting dates for March and April to maximize attendance: the March 11 meeting was moved to March 18 (3-1), and the April 22 meeting (municipal election day) was moved to April 24 at 4 p.m. (3-1). Commissioners asked staff for a written summary about alleged private parking fees at Saint Andrew Mardi Gras events and asked the city manager and clerk to circulate additional financial documentation about insurance proceeds and fund balances to clarify messaging to the public.

Public comment touched on multiple topics, including water-meter billing and lift-station relocations, downtown marina questions, opposition to the West Beach Drive multi‑use path and the referendum language, and nonprofit service offerings from Second Chance and Goshen Evangelical Ministries. Commissioners restricted commission discussion of the April ballot question to avoid campaign‑related activity from the dais.

The commission adjourned after completing the agenda; items tabled for further review will return at the March 18 meeting unless otherwise noticed.